Previews

Terminator Salvation -- The Videogame Hands-on

Will the latest "Terminator" game be the salvation of the franchise? Signs point to no.

Spiffy:

It's probably better than any other "Terminator" game you've played.

Iffy:

There's not much reason to stay interested if you don't want to blow up robots.

Eyes are on GRIN. The studio behind Capcom's well-received downloadable remake of Bionic Commando finds itself between its fully 3D reimagining of that series and several... licensed titles. Wanted: Weapon of Choice is already on shelves. In just a few months, Terminator Salvation will be, too. And we've played it.

You play John Connor in the videogame version of "Terminator Salvation," a prequel to the McG-directed action moving coming later this year. Except it's not really John Connor. Christian Bale's likeness and voice aren't present in this adaptation; for whatever reason, Bale bowed out. The likeness is mostly irrelevant, as the reason to play is the game itself, right?

Well, you've played this game. There's not much that Terminator Salvation is doing that hasn't been done before. It's a Gears of War-style shooter. Sure, it has production values above those of most licensed games., but as a game it's familiar ground. Well, okay, there is one thing that makes it a little different, something worth noting.

The cover system is mostly what you'd expect. By tapping a button to move into position, you're guarded from enemies. Other games allow you to move between cover positions near one another, but such movement is typically limited to what's in front of you or to the right or left. Terminator Salvation provides an interesting opportunity to move diagonally, as well. It's a small touch, but one that affects gameplay enough that it'd be nice to see some more games adopt the concept.

In almost every other respect, Terminator Salvation is like any other licensed game: How much do you like "Terminator"? The quality of licensed games has risen significantly in recent years. Studios like GRIN are capable of producing competent, if ultimately unspectacular, licensed games. But it's a question of whether people looking for an interactive "Terminator Salvation" even want a new experience or simply desire a way to extend their enjoyment from the theater to somewhere else.

Part of that may depend on whether you have someone in the room with you. Terminator Salvation includes co-op, but it's not available over Xbox Live or PlayStation Network; this is split-screen only. Consequently, while the experience of blowing up robots side-by-side with a buddy is fun, in its current state, not only do the visuals take a tumble, but the design itself feels as though it was ultimately meant for one person. There are some opportunities for genuine side-by-side interaction, though, such as a rail-based stage where each player's in a different car.

When's the last time we had a genuinely good "Terminator" game? Though our hands-on time with Terminator Salvation doesn't inspire confidence that we're looking at The Next Big Thing, it's looking like "Terminator" fans at least have something to look forward to. Blowing up evil robots is something we can all get behind.